March 27, 2020
As people become used to the necessary precautions, and as we progress with the required Infection Prevention and Control measures according to Public Health, we want to take this time to share with you some official sources for our information:
From our governing body, the Ontario Retirement Home Regulatory Authority (RHRA) shares the Chief Medical Officer’s direction that we are required to follow the Chief Medical Officer’s recommendations for Retirement Homes as well as the Chief Medical Officer’s direction for Long Term Care Homes effective immediately:
The Ontario Ministry for Seniors reiterated the Chief Medical Officer’s mandate that there shall be no visitors to Retirement Homes despite the emotional stress that may need to be endured.
https://news.ontario.ca/oss/en/2020/03/ontario-is-protecting-seniors-health-and-safety.html
The measures we have all come to know well by now involving self isolation, social distancing, reiterated by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care:
https://news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2020/03/enhanced-measures-to-protect-ontarians-from-covid-19.html
One of the most informative websites for an operator of a Regulated Retirement Home is the Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA). ORCA is a long standing regulatory and advocacy agency to which we are members. This excellent organization is in communication with the government and Member Retirement Homes working to do what is best to enhance the lives of seniors living in Ontario.
https://www.orcaretirement.com/news/coronavirus-update-resources/
And of course the World Health Organization (WHO) who declared the Coronavirus a world pandemic on March 11, 2020.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019